Ever since Glenn Beck told Bill O’Reilly that he didn’t think that gay marriage represented a threat to our country, he’s been hammered by anti-gay activists for selling out the conservative movement and was even accused by the AFA’s Bryan Fischer of siding with “people who want to use the anus for sex” over Christians.
Interestingly, yesterday had Beck’s BFF David Barton on his radio program to talk about the concerns being raised about Beck’s Mormon faith and his “Restoring Honoro” rally and toward the end of the interview Fischer asked Barton is Beck was “with us” when it came to opposing gay marriage, and Barton assured him that Beck “absolutely is”:
Fischer: David, got about twenty seconds, lot of controversy about what Glenn Beck said on the Bill O’Reilly program. You may have a perspective on where Glenn Beck is at on the issue of marriage. Is he with us on protecting natural marriage in law and the Constitution?
Barton: He absolutely is and that was made clear on that Saturday in the Restoring Honor [rally] – both life and marriage were made forefronts in that thing, traditional marriage. And if you read the full transcript, you’ll find that Beck did not smash marriage, he just said that’s a fruit, if we get God back in the country, marriage and abortion will take care of themselves.
Of course, if you actually read the transcript, it doesn’t appear that that was the point that Beck was making at all:
O’REILLY: Why don’t you do the culture warrior stuff?
BECK: Because honestly, right now, I mean, the one part of culture that I am doing a lot of is faith. But general faith. We have got to get back to our churches, our synagogues, our mosques, whatever it is, as long as it’s not telling to you blow things up. Get back to God and get back to the Founding Fathers.
O’REILLY: I don’t know if that’s going to happen. I mean, it’s a noble thing you’re trying to do, because spirituality is a good thing. Introspection is a good thing. But let’s take the gay marriage deal. You know, big ruling in California. You really didn’t cover that much, right?
BECK: No.
O’REILLY: Why?
BECK: Because honestly, I think we have bigger fish to fry. You can argue about abortion or gay marriage or whatever else you want.
O’REILLY: Yes.
BECK: The country is burning down. I personally think these…
O’REILLY: Isn’t that one of the reasons, because we’re getting away from the traditional way we used to live into this progressive…
BECK: Instead of arguing about these divisive things, let’s get back into our churches and our synagogues and…
O’REILLY: You’re not going to get people going back unless there ‘s a reason to go back.
BECK: Here’s the reason, America. Your country is burning down. I don’t think marriage, that the government actually has anything to do with…
O’REILLY: But they do have…
BECK: That is a religious rite.
O’REILLY: I know, but they do have something to do, because gay marriage is going to be a reality in this country in 10 years.
BECK: Why do they have anything to do with it?
O’REILLY: Because they choose to, and you’re not going to stop them, all right?
BECK: Actually, this is where we disagree.
O’REILLY: The Supreme Court may rule against gay marriage. Very possible.
BECK: You’re willing to continue to go down the road of just accepting “well that’s the way it is.”
O’REILLY: I’m not accepting anything. I wrote a book about it. Don’t give me this accept. Come on.
BECK: He’s so hostile.
O’REILLY: Yes. I have to correct you. You are ignoring the profound change in the American family.
BECK: No, I’m not.
O’REILLY: But you’re not covering it.
BECK: Because I think that the thing that needs to be covered — Bill, I believe in a symphony. If we’re all playing clarinets, we ain’t going to get very far. A symphony needs to sound. I’m covering what I cover. You cover what you cover. Both of us are saying the same thing. Watch the culture.
O’REILLY: Do you believe — do you believe that gay marriage is a threat to the country in any way?
BECK: A threat to the country?
O’REILLY: Yes. Is it going to harm?
BECK: No. Are the gay — will the gays come and get us?
O’REILLY: OK. Is it going to harm the country in any way?
BECK: I believe that Thomas Jefferson said, “If it neither breaks my leg or picks my pocket, what difference is it to me?”
You know, given that Barton specializes in re-writing American history, I guess it shouldn’t be terribly surprising to discover that he is willing re-write all of history to suit his needs, including things that happened just a few weeks ago.
